65 Their lot forbad: nor circumscribed alone With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. They kept the noiseless tenour of their way. Yet e'en these bones from insult to protect Some frail memorial still erected nigh, 70 75 With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd, Implores the passing tribute of a sigh. 80 85 Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd Muse, Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate, 90 95 100 'There at the foot of yonder nodding beech That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that babbles by. Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, 105 Muttering his wayward fancies he would rove; Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, Or crazed with care, or cross'd in hopeless love One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill, Along the heath, and near his favourite tree; Another came; nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; 'The next with dirges due in sad array 111 114 Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne, Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.' THE EPITAPH Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere ; 120 He gain'd from Heaven, 'twas all he wish'd, a friend. No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his Father and his God. T. GRAY. 125 148 MARY MORISON O Mary, at thy window be, It is the wish'd, the trysted hour! Those smiles and glances let me see That make the miser's treasure poor : How blythely wad I bide the stoure, A weary slave frae sun to sun, Could I the rich reward secure, Yestreen, when to the trembling string To thee my fancy took its wing, I sat, but neither heard nor saw : And yon the toast of a' the town, I sigh'd, and said amang them a', Ye arena Mary Morison.' O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace 149 BONNIE LESLEY O saw ye bonnie Lesley R. BURNS. As she gaed o'er the border? To spread her conquests farther. To see her is to love her, And love but her for ever; Thou art a queen, fair Lesley, The hearts o' men adore thee. The deil he couldna scaith thee, And say I canna wrang thee ! ' The Powers aboon will tent thee; Return again, fair Lesley, Return to Caledonie ! That we may brag we hae a lass R. BURNS. 5 10 15 20 150 O my Luve's like a red, red rose That's sweetly play'd in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o' life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only Luve! 15 R. BURNS. 151 HIGHLAND MARY Ye banks and braes and streams around Green be your woods, and fair your flowers, There simmer first unfauld her robes, For there I took the last fareweel How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk, As underneath their fragrant shade The golden hours on angel wings For dear to me as light and life Wi' mony a vow and lock'd embrace And pledging aft to meet again, But, oh! fell Death's untimely frost, That nipt my flower sae early ! Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay, O pale, pale now, those rosy lips, And closed for ay the sparkling glance 10 15 20 25 |